Extended reach tool

ABSTRACT

An extended reach tool includes two or more separate flow paths, wherein each of the flow paths has multiple hollow chambers connected in series. Each of the hollow chambers includes a first constricted chamber with a fluid entry, a first expansion chamber located adjacent to the lower end of the first constricted chamber, and a second constricted chamber with the upper end of connected to the lower end of the first expansion chamber. A separate second expansion chamber is connected to the lower end of a plurality of the second constricted chambers. A single port is located adjacent to the lower end of the second expansion chamber.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/970,691 entitled Extended Reach Tool filed May3, 2018, which claims the benefit of U. S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/500,870 entitled Extended Reach Tool filed on May 3,2017, each of which are specifically incorporated by reference in itsentirety herein.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to apparatus and methods for creating avibration within a wellbore. The disclosure relates specifically to avibrating downhole tool configured to vibrate equipment located within awellbore.

BACKGROUND

In the drilling of oil and gas wells as well as other downholeactivities, it is common to use a downhole system which provides apercussive or hammer effect to the drill string to increase drillingrate. For example, in the process of drilling a wellbore, frictionalforces acting against the drill pipe or other component running throughthe wellbore limit the maximum length or depth to which the wellbore maybe drilled. Solutions of this problem include mechanisms for vibratingthe drill pipe during drilling in order to convert static frictionalforces on the drill pipe to dynamic frictional forces between the drillpipe and the wall of the wellbore.

Various types of vibrator devices have been employed with pipe stringsin order to provide vibration. Some such vibrator devices typicallyemploy reciprocating impact elements that move back and forth along theaxis of the pipe string to induce vibration in the pipe string. Othersuch vibrator devices employ the use of eccentrically weighted rotatingmasses, eccentric shafts or rods, or rotatable impact elements thatrotate about the longitudinal axis of the drill or pipe string to strikean impact anvil in order to apply a rotational or torsional vibration tothe pipe string.

Still other types of vibrator devices utilize Moineau power sectionsthat are generally used in downhole mud motors or pumps. Moineau powersections typically utilize rubber or rubber-like elastomers as sealswhich are negatively affected by elevated wellbore temperatures andpressures, certain drilling fluids and or chemicals, and contaminants ordebris in the wellbore or drilling fluids.

Apparatus utilizing one or both of these principles is described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,165,438 to David M. Facteau. Two fluidic oscillators areachieved by employing wedge-shaped splitters to route the flow of afluid down diverging diffuser legs. The oscillators connect to a sourceof fluid flow, provide a mechanism for oscillating the fluid flowbetween two different locations within the oscillator, and emit fluidpulses downstream of the source of the fluid flow. In one vibrator, afeedback passageway from each leg is routed back to the flow pathupstream of the splitter to create a condition establishing oscillatingflow through the legs. In a second vibrator, a passageway between thelegs downstream of the upstream end of the splitter creates a conditionestablishing oscillating flow through the legs. A disadvantage of thiskind of oscillator is that the diverging diffuser legs required toestablish oscillation are expensive to fabricate and prone to cloggingfrom debris in the fluid because of the relative incline between the legand the axial of the pipe string.

Consequently, there is a need to provide an even more effective fluidoscillator for down hole tools which is reliable, long-lived andeconomical.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a helix oscillating delivery systemthat creates an erratic helical pulsating stream within a circularcylindrical structure. The helix oscillating delivery system connects toa source of fluid flow at its upper end and has a plurality of separateflow paths that are constricted and expanded repeatedly. The erratichelical pulsating stream is caused by the flow paths and strengthened byan expansion chamber.

In one embodiment, the helix oscillating delivery system comprises twoor more separate flow paths. Each of the flow paths has multiple hollowchambers connected in series. Each of the hollow chambers comprises afirst constricted chamber 6 with a fluid entry, a first expansionchamber located adjacent to the lower end of the first constrictedchamber, a second constricted chamber with an upper end connected to thelower end of the first expansion chamber; a separate second expansionchamber connected to the lower ends of a plurality of the secondconstricted chambers; and a single port located adjacent to the lowerend of the second expansion chamber.

The cross-section area of the first constricted chamber is smaller thanthat of the first expansion chamber and the cross-section area of thefirst expansion chamber is larger than that of the second constrictedchamber.

The cross-section area of the second expansion chamber graduallydecreases from a top end to a bottom end of the second expansionchamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the cross-section of the secondexpansion chamber is circular, and the longitudinal section of thesecond expansion chamber is a trapezoidal section with a large top baseand a small bottom base.

In another aspect, the invention is directed to an extended reach tool.The tool comprises two or more separate flow paths. Each of the flowpaths has multiple hollow chambers connected in series. Each of thehollow chambers comprises a first constricted chamber with a fluidentry, a first expansion chamber located adjacent to the lower end ofthe first constricted chamber, a second constricted chamber with theupper end connected to the lower end of the first expansion chamber; aseparate second expansion chamber connected to the lower ends of aplurality of the second constricted chambers; and a single port locatedadjacent to the lower end of the second expansion chamber.

In one embodiment, the extended reach tool can be attached to a tubingor motor on a top side of the extended reach tool and attached to abottom hole assembly on a bottom end of the extended reach tool.

In one embodiment, the extended reach tool comprises a thread pinadapted to engage a threaded box of a tubing or motor, and a threadedbox end to receive male threaded pin end of a bottom hole assembly.

In another aspect, the invention is direct to a method of delivering anerratic helical pulsating jet stream within an extended reach toolconnected to a drill string pipe/coil tubing or a bottom hole assembly.The tool receives fluid from the drill string pipe or coil tubing into ahollow interior of the tool, wherein the fluid is separated into two ormore separate flow paths. The fluid is repeatedly compressed andexpanded, which will create a pulsating flow with erratic helical flow,and the pulsating flow passes out of the tool through ports in the toolto create pulsing and erratic helical jets of fluid. The erratic,helically pulsating jets of fluid will cause the extended reach tool tovibrate and pulsate a bottom hole assembly and coil tubing/tubing torelease friction around them so as to move the bottom hole assemblyfreely downhole and up hole.

In one embodiment, the fluid is separated into two separate paths.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features of the presentdisclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may bebetter understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosurewill be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the manner in which the above-recited and otherenhancements and objects of the disclosure are obtained, a moreparticular description of the disclosure briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore notto be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be describedwith additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1a is a transparent perspective view of an extended reach tool inaccord with one possible embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional view of the extended reach tool in FIG. 1ain accord with one possible embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view to show the fluid flowing in chambers of a flow path ina helix oscillating delivery system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure only and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description of theprinciples and conceptual aspects of various embodiments of thedisclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structuraldetails of the disclosure in more detail than is necessary for thefundamental understanding of the disclosure, the description taken withthe drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the severalforms of the disclosure may be embodied in practice.

The following definitions and explanations are meant and intended to becontrolling in any future construction unless clearly and unambiguouslymodified in the following examples or when application of the meaningrenders any construction meaningless or essentially meaningless. Incases where the construction of the term would render it meaningless oressentially meaningless, the definition should be taken from Webster'sDictionary 3^(rd) Edition.

The present invention pertains to a helix oscillating delivery systemthat creates a pulsating flow within a circular cylindrical structure.The helix oscillating delivery system connects to a source of fluid flowat its upper end and has a plurality of separate flow paths that areconstricted and expanded repeatedly. The flow paths enter into anexpanded area and the expanded area connects to a single port on itslower end. Referring to FIG. 1, the helix oscillating delivery systemcomprises two or more separate flow paths 5, each of the flow paths 5has multiple hollow chambers connected in series. For example, a flowpath has a first constricted chamber 6 with a fluid entry, a firstexpansion chamber 7 is located adjacent to a lower end of the firstconstricted chamber 6. An upper end of the second constricted chamber 8is connected to a lower end of the first expansion chamber 7. There is aseparate second expansion chamber 9 connected to the lower ends of aplurality of the second constricted chambers 8 of the flow paths 5. Thena single port 10 is located adjacent to a lower end of the secondexpansion chamber 9. The chambers 6, 7, and 8 are columnar hollowstructures and the shapes of the cross-section of the chambers arearbitrary. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shapes can berectangular, squares, triangular, rhomboid, and ellipse. In a preferredembodiment, the shapes of the cross-section of the chambers are circularin order to reduce the effects of resistance and drag applied to thefluid flow in the chambers.

The cross-section area of the first constricted chamber 6 is smallerthan that of the first expansion chamber 7 and the cross-section area ofthe first expansion chamber 7 is larger than that of the secondconstricted chamber 8. FIG. 2 illustrate fluid flowing in chambers 6, 7and 8 which are connected in series. The arrows indicate the directionof the movement of the fluid. In FIG. 2, chamber 6, 7 and 8 are ofcylinder shapes and have inner diameters d1, D and d2 respectively,where d1<D and D>d2. The fluid is compressed in chamber 6 because of therestriction in flow and decrease in diameter, and the velocity of thefluid will increase. When the fluid enters into chamber 7, it willexpand and the velocity of the fluid will decrease because of theincrease in diameter of the chamber 7. Then when the fluid enters intochamber 8 from chamber 7, the fluid will be compressed and the velocityof it will increase, which will create a pulsing flow. The fluid nearthe section between chamber 6 and chamber 7 will be subject to highshear forces because of the density and viscosity of the fluid and thesudden expansion of the fluid. The shear forces cause vortex turbulencein the chamber 7. Similarly, shear forces near the section betweenchamber 7 and chamber 8 cause vortex turbulence in the chamber 7 becauseof the sudden contraction of the fluid. The vortex turbulence ispropagated in the chamber 7, which induces an erratic helical flow. Theerratic helical flow amplifies the pulsation of the pulsing flow.

In some embodiments, the shape of the cross-section of the expandedchamber 9 can be rectangles, squares, triangles, rhomboid, ellipse. Thecross-section area of the expanded chamber 9 gradually decreases from atop end to a bottom end of it. In a preferred embodiment the shape ofthe cross-section of the expanded chamber 9 is circular, thelongitudinal section of the expanded chamber 9 is a trapezoidal sectionwith a large top base and a small bottom base. With this construction,the pulsing flows from a plurality of chambers 8 will expand andgenerate vortex turbulence which will interfuse with each other, suchthat the erratic helical flows from a plurality of chambers 8 willinterfere with each other to generate stronger erratic helical flow. Andat the same time, the fluid will be concentrated because of thegradually decreased cross-section area of the expanded chamber 9. Theerratic helical flow further amplifies the pulsation of the pulsing flowin the expanded chamber 9. Then the pulsing flow is deflected and forcedinto the single port 10. The single port 10 can be a hollow cylinder ora conical structure with an up-narrow and down-wide configuration toform a flow path for the erratic helical pulsating stream.

As a result, a strong pulsating stream with erratic helical flow isdeveloped in the helix oscillating delivery system without any externalexcitation, and no moving parts or valve arrangements are required tobring about a pulse flow.

The helix oscillating delivery system can be used in a downhole systemto provide pulsation. In one embodiment, it can be used as an extendedreach tool to prevent stick-slip incidences with coil tubing or lock-upof jointed pipe between cased hole/open hole, and with tubing or coiltubing while milling, drilling or performing service work.

The extended reach tool can be used to vibrate and pulsate coiltubing/tubing and milling, drilling, or service work bottom holeassemblies to eliminate friction of the coil tubing or tubing in casedhole or open hole, so as to allow the bottom hole assembly to reach thedepth in the cased hole or open hole well to complete the desiredmilling, drilling, or service job.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the extended reach tool 10 will be attached toa tubing or motor (not shown) on top side 2 and attached to a bottomhole assembly (not shown) on the bottom end 3. The extended reach tool10 can be used on any size tubing. The top side 2 may have a malethreaded box adapted to receive a female threaded pin of the tubing, andthe bottom end 3 may comprise a female threaded pin end to engage a malethreaded box end of the bottom hole assembly.

Fluid flow 4 enters from the top side 2 into the extended reach tool 10.The entry of the flow into the tool can be through an inclusive box orpin of said tool or a crossover that can be attached to the tool. Thetool is provided internally with two or more separate flow paths 5, eachof the flow paths 5 has multiple hollow chamber connected in series. Aflow path 5 has a first constricted chamber 6 with a fluid entry, afirst expansion chamber 7 is located adjacent to a lower end of thefirst constricted chamber 6. An upper end of the second constrictedchamber 8 is connected to a lower end of the first expansion chamber 7.Fluid flow 4 is alternatingly constricted in chamber 6, then expanded inchamber 7 and then constricted in chamber 8 to cause itself to pulsatein a flow pattern with erratic helical flow. The flow paths are allarranged in a case 12. The flow 4 from the chamber 8 enters into thesecond expansion chamber 9 and is forced into the single port 10 whichcan be part of the tool or an add on, extending through the extendedreach tool 10 on a lower end for delivering erratic helically pulsatingjets of fluid out of the tool. The erratic helically pulsating jets offluid will cause the extended reach tool 10 to vibrate and pulsate thebottom hole assembly and coil tubing/tubing to release friction aroundthem to move the bottom hole assembly freely downhole and up hole.

Yet another aspect of the current invention is a method of delivering anerratic helical pulsating jet stream within an extended reach toolconnected to a drill string pipe/coil tubing or a bottom hole assembly,so that the tool receives fluid from the drill string pipe or coiltubing into a hollow interior of the tool, wherein the fluid isseparated into two or more separate flow paths, causing the fluid to berepeatedly compressed and expanded which in turn will create a pulsatingflow with erratic helical flow, and causing the pulsating flow to passout of the tool through ports in the tool to create pulsing and erratichelical jets of fluid. The erratic helically pulsating jets of fluidwill cause the extended reach tool to vibrate and pulsate a bottom holeassembly and coil tubing/tubing to release friction around them to movethe bottom hole assembly freely downhole and up hole.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the extended reach tool 10 is providedinternally with two or more separate flow paths that are repeatedlycompressed and expanded to cause the fluid to pulsate in an erratichelical flow pattern, and a single port extending through the extendedreach tool 10 that is deflected back to one flow path on a lower end ofthe tool for delivering erratic helical pulsating jets of fluid out ofthe tool. The erratic helically pulsating jets of fluid will cause thetool to vibrate and pulsate the bottom hole assembly and coiltubing/tubing.

All of the compositions and methods disclosed and claimed herein can bemade and executed without undue experimentation in light of the presentdisclosure. While the compositions and methods of this disclosure havebeen described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent tothose of skill in the art that variations may be applied to thecompositions and methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps ofthe methods described herein without departing from the concept, spiritand scope of the disclosure. More specifically, it will be apparent thatcertain agents which are both chemically related may be substituted forthe agents described herein while the same or similar results would beachieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent tothose skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope andconcept of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An extended reach tool configured to be coupledto at least one of a bottom hole assembly, a tubing, and of a motor, theextended reach tool comprising: at least two separate flow pathsextending through the extended reach tool, wherein each flow path of theat least two separate flow paths includes: a first constricted chamberwith an upper end and a lower end spaced apart from the upper end of thefirst constricted chamber, the first constricted chamber including afirst constricted chamber diameter; a first expansion chamber with anupper end and a lower end spaced apart from the upper end of the firstexpansion chamber, the first expansion chamber including a firstexpansion chamber diameter, wherein the first expansion chamber diameteris greater than the first constricted chamber diameter; a secondconstricted chamber with an upper end and a lower end spaced apart fromthe upper end of the second constricted chamber, the second constrictedchamber including a second constricted chamber diameter, wherein thefirst expansion chamber diameter is greater than the second constrictedchamber diameter; and, a second expansion chamber with a top end and abottom end spaced apart from the top end, wherein the top end of thesecond expansion chamber is fluidly coupled to the lower end of thesecond constricted chamber of each of the at least two separate flowpaths.
 2. The extended reach tool of claim 1, further comprising asingle port located proximate to the bottom end of the second expansionchamber.
 3. The extended reach tool of claim 1, wherein the single portis one of a) a hollow-cylinder and b) a hollow-conical structure with afirst width proximate the second expansion chamber and a second widthspaced apart from the first width, wherein the first width is smallerthan the second width.
 4. The extended reach tool of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one of a) a top side with a threaded box configuredto receive a threaded pin of the bottom hole assembly and b) a bottomend with a threaded pin wherein the threaded pin is configured to bereceived in a threaded box of one of the tubing and the motor.
 5. Theextended reach tool of claim 1, wherein each of the at least twoseparate flow paths are configured such that when a fluid flows throughthe extended reach tool the fluid flows sequentially through the firstconstricted chamber, the first expansion chamber, the second constrictedchamber, and the second expansion chamber.
 6. The extended reach tool ofclaim 1, wherein the first constricted chamber and the first expansionchamber are configured such that when a fluid flows through the extendedreach tool the fluid flow becomes turbulent upon entering the firstexpansion chamber from the first constricted chamber.
 7. The extendedreach tool of claim 1, wherein the first expansion chamber and thesecond constricted chamber are configured such that when a fluid flowsthrough the extended reach tool a portion of the fluid flow within thefirst expansion chamber becomes turbulent as another portion of thefluid flow exits the first expansion chamber and enters the secondconstricted chamber.
 8. The extended reach tool of claim 1, wherein thefirst constricted chamber, the first expansion chamber, and the secondconstricted chamber are configured such that when a fluid flows throughthe extended reach tool a portion of the fluid within the firstexpansion chamber becomes turbulent and propagates through the firstexpansion chamber.
 9. The extended reach tool of claim 1, wherein across-section of at least one of the first constricted chamber, thefirst expansion chamber, and the second constricted chamber of at leastone of the at least two separate flow paths, and the second expansionchamber is one of a columnar hollow shape, a rectangular shape, a squareshape, a triangular shape, a rhomboidal shape, an elliptical shape, anda circular shape.
 10. The extended reach tool of claim 1, wherein across-sectional area of the second expansion chamber decreases from thetop end to the bottom end of the second expansion chamber.
 11. Theextended reach tool of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal section of thesecond expansion chamber is a trapezoidal section.
 12. The extendedreach tool of claim 11, wherein the trapezoidal section includes a topbase proximate the top of the second expansion chamber and a bottom baseproximate the bottom of the second expansion chamber, wherein the topbase is longer than the bottom base.
 13. The extended reach tool ofclaim 1, wherein the second expansion chamber and each secondconstricted chamber of the at least two flow paths are configured suchthat when a fluid flows through the extended reach tool a portion of thefluid flow within each of second constricted chamber enters the secondexpansion chamber, thereby causing the flow of fluid to become turbulentwithin the second expansion chamber and amplify a pulsation of the fluidflowing through the second expansion chamber.
 14. A method of deliveringa pulsing fluid, comprising: positioning the extended reach tool ofclaim 1 in a well bore; providing a fluid to the extended reach tool;separating the fluid into the at least two separate flow paths in theextended reach tool.
 15. A drill string comprising: at least one of atubing and a motor; a bottom hole assembly; and, the extended reach toolof claim 1.